Switch.



C. J. ANDERSON.

SWITCH.

APPLICATION FILED MAR-3, 1911.

1,140,491 1 Patented May 25, 1915.

' I zz 21 v 1 I 1 v UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CARL J". ANDERSON, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR, .BY MESNE ASSIGNMENTS, TO

THE CUTLER-HAMMER MFG. (30., OF MI WISCONSIN.

LWAUKEE, WISCONSIN, A CORPORATION or swrrcrr.

Patented May 25, 1915.

Application filed March 3, 1911. Serial No. 612,032.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that 1, CARL J. ANDERSON, a citizen of the United States, residingat Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented new and useful 1mprovements in Switches, of which the following is a full, clear, concise, and exact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawing, forming a part of this specification.

My invention relates to improvements in electric switches.

It is the principal object of my invention to provide a switch controllable at will from a distance which will require no expenditure of power to maintain the same closed, and which may be set and released through the same medium.

Various other objects and advantages of my invention will be hereinafter-described.

l'n order to disclose the nature and characteristic features of my invention, I shall describe the switch illustrated in the accompanying drawing, which embodies my invention 'in its preferred form. It should be understood, however, that my invention is not limited to the specific structure illustrated, but is susceptible of various modificrumed upon a cations.

In the accompanying drawing, Figure 1 is a side elevation of the switch, parts thereof being shown in section. Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the right hand portion of Fig. 1, showing certain of the parts in a different position. Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 2, showing certain of the parts in still another position. Fig. 1 is a detailed perspective view of the locking means and a portion of the operating mechanism, and Fig. 5 is a disassembled view of the locking mechanism.

I have shown the switch mounted upon a suitable insulating panel The switch comprises a movable contact member 8 fulbracket 9 suitably secured to the panel 7. The member 8 carries a. laminated contact brush 10 adapted to engage a stationary contact ll'suitably secured to the panel 7. This form of switch has merely been selected for the purpose of illustration, it being understood-that any other form of switch might be employed. Secured to, the rear side of the panel 7 by any suitable means. such as bolts 12, is a magnet frame 13. 1Vithin the magnet frame 18 is mounted .ment with its stationary contact.

a solenoid spool 11 having a stationary core 15 which as illustrated,is formed integrally with the head of the magnet frame and a movable core 16. Extending longitudinally through the movable core 16 is a rod 17 upon which the core 16 is adapted to freely slide. Threaded onto the left hand end of the rod 17 1s a member 18 pivotally connected to a lug 19 on the movable contact member-8. The other end of the rod 17 is threaded into, or otherwise secured to the end of a rod 20 extending through and free to slide within the stationary core 15. The rod 17 thus forms an operative connection between the rod 20 and the contact member 8, whereby, when the rod 20 is moved to the" right. said Contact member willbe moved into engagev The rod 20 is preferably of greater diameter than the rod 17, to permit its end 21 to abut against the end of the movable core 16 of the solenoid. Accordingly, when the solenoid is energized and draws in its core 16, the rod 20 will be moved by said core to close the switch. The core 16,. however, is free to return to initial position upon deenergizzv tion of the solenoid, irrespective of whether or not the switch remains closed, and for so returning the core 16, I haye provided a coil spring 22, surrounding the same and interposed between a flange 23 thereof and the end of the magnet frame 13. a

' The means for mechanically retaining the switch in closed position, after deenergization of the solenoid 13, is as follows: Projecting from the right hand end of the magnet'frame are a pair of parallel lugs 21, both lugs being shown only in Fig. 5. Supported by these lugs is a pin 26 uponwhich is fulcrumed a latch 27. The latch 27 is arranged to coiiiperate with the head 28 screw-threaded onto, or otherwise secured to the end of the rod 20. The head 28 is provided with an annular flange 29, behind which the latch 27 is adapted to spring in a manner and under the conditions hereinafter set forth. Fulcrumed on the rod 26 beside the latch 27 is a small lever or arm 30. The lever 30 and the latch 27 are interlocked by over-lapping lugs 31 and 32, carried thereby respectively. These interlocking lugs cause the latch and lever to move together where the former is moved to the left or the latter'is moved to the right and permit independent movement member and its other endconnected to a sta 'tionary part, preferably one of'the lugs 24.

'16 of the operating solenoid and of each under other conditions. Tliedatch';

and the lever are provided with coil springs 33 and 34:, respectively, tending to "move the same in opposite directions, to normally hold their locking lugs in engagement. Each of the springs surrounds the pin 26 and has one.

end thereof connected to its corresponding For a purpose hereinafter set forth, I-desire to have the strength of the spring 33 predominate that of the spring 34 to normally maintain the latch27 and the lever 30 in the position illustrated in Fig.3. The lever 30 is, under the conditions hereinafter set forth,

adapted to be engaged and moved by a projecting pin 38 carried by the movable core projecting through the stationary corel5'. I

I shall now describe the operation and functions of the various parts of the device.

VVhen' the switch is open, the movable parts of the operating means'and the retaining mechanism, will be in the positions illustrated" in- Fig. 3.. Assumingnowthixt' illustrated in Fig. 1, said latch mechanically locking the-switch in full closed position. The solenoid may then be 'denergized, allowing its-movable-core 16 to return to initial position, under the influence of the spring 22, thereby, obviating needless expenditure of energy to hold the switch closed. -Again referring to Fig. 3, it will be seen: that when the switch is opened, the lever 30 of the locking mechanism is maintained out of the path of the projecting pin 38 carried by the movable core of the solenoid. Accordingly, when the solenoid is energized, thepin 38 will merely pass over the lever 30, without moving the same. WVhen', however, the'latch27 is rocked, as

previously described, the tension of the spring 33 is removed from the lever 30, and

hence, said lever, under the influence of its own spring, will tend to move into va vertical position, but'will be prevented from so doing as long'as the pin-38 carried by the movable core of-the solenoid remains in its path. Upon denergization of the. solefnoid, however, the pin 38 is withdrawn from the path of the latch 30, which immediately moves to the position illustrated in Fig. 1. In this position, the extremity of the lever position.

disposed in the path of the pin 38. Accordingly, when the solenoid 14: is again energized, it will, through the medium of the pin 38, rock the lever 30 to the right, and thus,- move the latch out of engagement with the flange 29 on the head of the rod 20. This, of course, releases the rod 20 and the switch member 8, both of which will return to initial position upon denergization of the solenoid 13. Sufficient energy will be stored in the laminated brush to insure opening ofthe switch, under these conditions, but, of course, if preferred, the switch might be otherwise biased to open Itwill thus be seen, that it is only necessary to momentarily energize the solenoid 14 to close the switch, whereupon the switch is automatically locked in closed position, thereby requiring no further expenditure of electrical energy for its retention. Likewise, it is only necessary to Inomentarily energize the solenoid 14 to release the switch. Accordingly, the operation of the switch may be completely controlled by means of a single push button 39, arranged atany distant point to'control the circuit of thefsolenoid 14:. The push button is, of

course, preferably biased in a direction to interrupt the circuit of the solenoid immediately upon its release.

While I have shown the switch as operated by a solenoid, it should be understood that any other suitable power device might be employed in lieu of said solenoid.

Having thus described my invention what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is: r

1. In combination, an electric switch, mechanical means for automatically locking said switch in a predetermined position and a' device'reciprocable in a single path to actuate said switch and to trip said means alternately upon successive movements in the same direction and to the same limit of .travel.

2. In combination, an electric switch, mechanical means for automatically locking said switch in a predetermined position, a device movable relatively to said means and rectilinearly movable back and forth between predetermined limits of travel to alternately actuate said switch and trip said means upon successive movementsin the same direction and to the same limit of travel, and means for controlling said reciprocable device from a distant point.

3. In combinatiom'a' switch, a movable member connected--- thereto and movable therewith, an operating member .for said switch, a second movable member automatically engaging said first movable member in a predetermined position of the' latter to lock the same, and means engaged by said operating member only upon alternate operations of the latter to move said second said first movable member to release the same.

4. In combination, a switch, a latch for locking said switch in a predetermined position, a tripping member for said latch, a member movable in the one direction to actuate said switch and said tripping member alternately, and means normally maintaining said tripping member out of operative relation with said operating member and automatically moving the same into operative relation therewith after the return of said operating member. toward initial position.

5. In combination, a switch, a latch for automatically locking said switch in a predetermined position, a tripping member for said latch, a member movable in one direction and in one path for actuating said switch and said tripping member alternately, and means moving said tripping member out of the path of said operating member upon release of said switch and moving the same into the path of said operating member when said switch is locked and said operating member has returned toward initial position,

6. In comblnation, a switch, areciproi cable rod connected thereto, a solenoid for operating said switch in one direction through the medium of said rod, a latch cooperating with said rod to automatically lock said switch in a predetermined position, a tripping member for said latch arranged to be actuated by the plunger of said solenoid, and means for automatically moving said tripping member into and out of operative relation with the solenoid plunger in accordance with the position of said switch but moving the same into operative relation only after the return of the solenoid plunger toward initial position whereby said solenoid, upon successive energizations thereof, alternately operates and releases said switch.

7. In combination, a switch, a rod connected to said switch, a solenoid having a plunger reciprocably mounted upon said rod and adapted to actuate said switch through the medium of said rod, a device cooperating with said rod to automatically lock said switch in a predetermined position, and

means whereby said solenoid plunger alternately actuates and releases said switch upon successive reciprocations in the same direction.

8. In combination, a switch, a solenold, a

rod connected to said switch and extending through the plunger of said solenoid, a

shoulder on said rod'adapted to be engaged by the end of said solenoid plunger, a spring latch cooperating with said rod to automatically lock said switch in closed position, a tripping member for said latch, a member carried by said solenoid plunger for actuating said tripping member to release said switch, and means to automatically move said tripping member into and out of the path of said member but to move the same into the path ofsaid member only after the return of said solenoid plunger toward initial position.

9. In combination, a switch, a rod connected thereto and movable therewith, operating means for said rod, a rotatable latch cooperating with said rod to automatically lock said switch in closed position, a rotatable tripping member for said latch, said latch and said tripping member being interlocked in one rotary direction and springpressed against movement in the opposite direction, said operating means,'upon operation when said rod is latched in closed position of said switch, rotating said tripping member in its interlocked direction to release said latch, said tripping member being arranged to automatically move out of the path of said tripping means when said rod is moved to the open position of said switch.

10. In combination, a panel, a switch arm pivoted at one end to one side of said panel and having a contact at its other end, a contact on said panel to be engaged by said firstmentioned contact, a solenoid mounted on the other side of said panel, a rod extending through said panel and the plunger of said solenoid and pivotally connected to said arm intermediate the ends of the latter, a shoulder on said rod adapted to be engaged by the end of said solenoid plunger, means beyond said solenoid to latch said rod in closed position of said switch arm, and means to trip said latching means upon alternate movements of said solenoid plunger in the same direction. a

In witness whereof, I have hereunto subscribed my name in' the presence of two witnesses.

CAR-L J. ANDERSON.

Witnesses E. P. KING, FRANK H. HUBBARD. 

